Socket wrench



Sept. 27, 1927. c. A. SHEDD' 1,643,860

SOCKET WRENCH Filed July 1 1926 mil n #7565722??? aka/{es .2. 571

A zkw Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

lTE 1 STA T E S CHARLES A. SHEDD,

OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR TO WALDEN WORCESTER, INCORPORATED, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SOCKET WRENCH.

The invention relates to disengageable clutching devices for socket wrenches adapted to turn a bolt or nut by small oscillatory movements of a handle member. The object ofthe invention is to improve this class of wrenches by providing clutching elements with a diameter no greater than that of a small size interchangeable socket unit, to eliminate shearingstrains in the clutching parts in order that the wrench may have strength equal to or greater than that of former wrenches of this type; and to greatly reduce the expense of making these articles by eliminating milled teeth and employing instead teeth that can be broached.

Other and further advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a clutching unit built in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of said unit.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views on the lines 3--3, l l and 5-5 respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevation, on a smaller scale, of a suitable wrench handle.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view on the same scale as Figs. 1 to 5, of an interchangeable socket unit.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a cylindrical member 1 is formed at the upper end with a square recess 2. The member 1 can be easily turned from cold rolled stock on a screw machine. To produce the recess 2, the screw Inachine'is caused to drill the member with a hole, the diameter of which is equal to a side of the square recess to be formed. Also, the member 1 is internally undercut at 8. A simple broaching operation will now finish the polygonal recess 2.

The screw machine is also caused to drill a small hole right through the member 1. Then from each end a drill enters and pro duces portions 4. and 5 of slightly larger diameter, leaving a pair of shouldered portions 6, 7. The lower portion of the member l is likewise drilled out and an undercut portion produced at 8. Internal teeth 9 are formed in the member 1 by a broach, the shape of these teeth being best shown in Fig. 5.

1926. Serial No. 122,453.

A member 10 may likewise, and desirabl T be formed on a screw machine out of colc rolledstock, said member being drilled and tapped at 11 by the screw machine. Subsequently, this member is forced by a press through a broaching die, leaving. teeth 12 thereon. The lower portion of the member 10 is slabbed off by milling cutters, or in any other suit-able manner, to give a polygonal shape, desirably square. At 13, a spring pressed ball is disposed in a recess formed in one flat side of the member 10, forming a friction clamp to hold a socket unit.

Figure 7 shows a socket unit, by way of example. a plurality of units being of course provided in each tool kit. Each socket has a square recess i l, adapted to lit on the square portion of the member 10. Each socket also has a nut engaging recess 15 of varying sizes and shapes. Fig. 6, also by way of example,

shows one type of wrench handle having a square portion 16, with a spring pressed ball 17, adapted to lit in the recess 2. The wrench handles and socket units, being well known in the art, require no further description herein.

The member 10 is the movable element of the clutching means, and is held in place by means of a screw 18, the head of which is normally in engagement with the shoulder 7 on account of a spring 19, which thrusts against the member 10 at one end, and against the shoulder 7 at the other end.

To operate the device, the clutching unit is placed between any suitable handle and socket unit, and the nut receiving portion 15 placed over the nut or bolt head to be turned. The handle is then forced downward, and slightly turned, it the teeth 9 do not immediately engage with the teeth 12. As soon as the parts are clutched, the nut can be turned, and when the limit of movement is reached, the parts may be unclutched, the handle swung back and the operation re peated.

\Vhen employing twelve teeth, as shown, it is obvious that an angular movement of thirty degrees is suiiicient to manipulate the wrench. The angular turn needed can, of course, be diminished by increasing the nunr ber of teeth.

As shown in Figs. 4c and 5, the dihedral angle between the faces of the teeth has been made obtuse, thereby to eliminate practically all shearing strains, and substitute a compressing action. Also triangular teeth of this type can be broached with greater accuracy, but the particular angle shown is not sesses great strength, due, tot the use of flat.

sided, compression type of teeth in both of the clutching members. Also, idue to the decreased diameter, made possible :by the aforesaidimprovement in type of teeth employed, the device I will 3 lit in i smaller openings and take less room in a tool bag.

:I claim:

1.. Ina device of thezclass described alliandle fitting element, a socket: fitting element, there-being internal teeth on the first named part,and.iexternal teeth on-the second named part, and there being. a a hole through said handle fitting element, and a shoulder in said hole, a screw received in said socliet'fitting element with the head of said screw normally against said shoulder, and; a spring surrounding saidscrevv. V V i I 2. In a device of the classdescnib ed a .han-

.dle-fitti ng element, there being internal tri- V I ternal teeth, anda socket fijtting'nportion of reduced size beyond theeXter-nal teeth on the socket: fitting element, whereby teeth may be cut with ai'broa'ch.

i Dated this: tentlrday "of "July, 1926..

. CHARLES A. .VSHEDD.

both :setssof 

